The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Rivers, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, has announced the commission’s readiness to conduct the February 21 by-elections.
Yomere said the commission had concluded necessary preparations to ensure a smooth and credible exercise across the affected constituencies.
The REC disclosed this during a briefing with journalists after a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the commission for security agencies on Thursday in Port Harcourt.
He said preparations for the Ahoada-East II and Khana II State Constituencies by-elections in Rivers State had been completed.
According to him, key steps including the publication of the notice of registration and the election date have been concluded.
Yomere said 12 candidates from seven political parties would contest the elections, seven candidates in Ahoada-East II and five in Khana II.
“A total of 71,865 voters are registered in Ahoada-East II, while 41,085 voters are registered in Khana II,” he said.
On logistics, he said INEC had engaged transport unions to ensure the timely movement of personnel and election materials on election day.
He added that all BVAS machines had been configured, with SIM cards inserted and power banks being charged.
Yomere said the commission had received and distributed all non-sensitive materials to the affected local government areas,.
According to him, sensitive materials are expected to arrive during the week of the election.
He stated that training of ad-hoc staff was ongoing.
